Nigeria’s U-20 Women’s National Team, the Falconets, have officially opened their final training camp in Trzebnica, Poland, ahead of the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, albeit with a major administrative setback. The team will have to prosecute the global tournament without their captain, Joy Igbokwe , and defender Faridat Abdulwahab, after both players were denied entry visas.
To maintain squad depth, the technical crew has swiftly drafted in Vivian Kachi and Alaba Olabiyi to replace the duo as the team finalizes its roster.
Despite the unexpected loss of their captain, the two-time FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup silver-medallists have wasted no time settling into their European base. The squad commenced rigorous training on Wednesday at the Stadion Miejski, Fair Play Arena. Under the watchful eye of Head Coach Moses Aduku, the players and technical crew displayed immense zeal and dedication, immediately diving into tactical organization, technical execution, physical conditioning, and team cohesion.
To help the players acclimatize to the European conditions and adapt to the intensity of global competition, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has lined up two high-profile international friendlies for the team:
- Against Poland : Friday, August 28, at the Municipal Stadium in Brzeg (Kick-off: 12:00 PM local time).
- **Against South Korea : Tuesday, September 1, at the Remes Resort & Spa Football Stadium (Kick-off: 4:00 PM local time).
Coach Aduku continues to demand maximum commitment from the squad, using these test matches to assess the team’s overall progress, sharpen their tactical understanding against diverse playing styles, and make necessary adjustments before the tournament officially begins.
The Falconets have been drawn into a highly competitive Group F and will begin their World Cup campaign against Spain on September 7, followed by clashes with China PR on September 10 and New Caledonia on September 13.
Having finished as global runners-up in the 2010 and 2014 editions, the Nigerian girls are highly motivated to go a step further in Poland and bring home the country’s first-ever FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup title.
